Hussain Hazbavi 
Iran’s judiciary on Monday issued a stark warning that it will pursue and punish individuals accused of disrupting the country’s economic system, as authorities come under growing pressure from a collapsing currency, soaring inflation, and widening public unrest.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said those whose actions add pressure to people’s livelihoods — whether intentionally or not — would first be warned and then prosecuted if they fail to comply. His remarks were carried by state media.
“Those who, knowingly or unknowingly, place additional pressure on people and their livelihoods and effectively move in line with the enemy’s objectives must be cautioned,” Ejei said. “If they ignore these warnings, they must be seriously pursued and punished by the relevant authorities.”
Ejei portrayed economic disruptions as part of what he described as coordinated psychological and economic warfare by Iran’s adversaries, calling on judicial bodies to respond decisively. He pointed to existing laws that allow severe penalties for offenses classified as “corruption on earth,” a charge that can carry the death penalty, including in cases of large-scale economic disruption.
He argued that financial penalties are no longer sufficient under current conditions. “These fines are not deterrent,” Ejei said, urging punishments he described as proportionate to the scale of the crisis.
The judiciary chief also warned that accountability would extend beyond traders to government officials who enable economic violations. Individuals within state institutions found to be facilitating hoarding, smuggling, or currency manipulation would also face prosecution, he said.
Addressing the ongoing currency turmoil, Ejei said authorities must identify those responsible for market instability, citing central bank figures showing that roughly $18 billion in export revenues have not been returned to the country.
The warning comes as the rial continues to slide, inflation accelerates, and shopkeepers in Tehran stage protests over rising costs and what they describe as economic mismanagement.
